Ezra is a band happy to take their time with albums, this being only their third since they arrived on the scene in the early 90s. The wait was worth it, though, especially for fans of good melodic... » Read more(Posted by Paul Hightower 2007-03-01)

I wrote about this band’s previous effort, Twilight, back in #31, and while the basic idea is very much the same this time round, I’m going to give Eta Carinae the nod as a... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2007-03-01)

In the whole Nordic Revival of the last decade (or is it just one record label?), there’s traditionalists like Väsen and JPP, and there’s dabblers in electronics like Hedningarna and Sorten Muld,... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-01-01)

Forrest Fang is best known for his recent works in the area of world music, and Weingarten for his slide and ebow work with resonator guitars (dobro), so initially a collaboration between these two... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-01-01)

Like opening a portal into a dreamworld, Chas Smith’s music pulls the listener in immediately. The disc contains two sidelong tracks and a shorter ten minute closer, all explorations in... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2006-05-01)

Now that VdGG reunion has come and gone it’s clear that Hammill has taken the nudge to jump back into a smaller configuration to present his solo material. These live duo performances have not been... » Read more(Posted by Jeff Melton 2007-03-01)

Peter Hammill’s hardened stare adorns the cover of the songwriter’s current recording from his home studio in Wilts, UK. If fans needed any reminder, the singer’s stance has always included... » Read more(Posted by Jeff Melton 2008-01-01)

The fans who assembled at NEARfest in 2006 to see this Canadian trio playing one of their several reunions since they called it a day in the late 80s got a blast of the best sounds from their sci-fi... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2014-12-31)

I guess this is Ange. That's what it says on the box, though I can easily see that Christian Décamps is the only member of the band present from the band's heyday in the 70s. He's even got a female... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2007-03-01)

The folk-based singer-songwriter genre (if that’s what you want to call it) is in some ways the most basic
form of music there is: a person devises music and then performs it all on their own. In... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2007-03-01)

The Laser’s Edge is the label that introduced the world to Landberk and White Willow, and proprietor Ken Golden was instrumental in bringing Änglagård and Anekdoten to the attention of prog... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-01-01)

The longtime guitarist of SBB hasn’t released a lot of solo material, unlike bandmate Jozef Skrzek. In fact, apart from a couple discs in the 90s, this one is only the third. Here he takes a fun and... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2007-03-01)

By the very nature of the progressive rock “scene” you run into a lot of groups classified as retro, and by and large by “retro” people mean “sounds like Genesis.” This simplification of... » Read more(Posted by Sean McFee 2008-01-01)

This collection marks 10 years of music from Alpha Wave Movement, aka Greg Kyryluk. With interests shifting more toward ambient and improvised collaborations, it seems fitting to have a retrospective... » Read more(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-01-01)

Each successive White Willow album finds the band further along their evolutionary path, establishing their own unique sound amid numerous Scandinavian symphonic retro-prog bands. And each new disc... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-01-01)

It doesn’t take more than one look at the booklet cover and about 15 seconds of the first piece to know this isn’t like anything else that Unicorn has put out before; nor is it like any of the... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-01-01)

Since the moment I first heard Magnetic Flip around twenty years ago, I’ve been a fan of this band, and have followed their progress with pleasure, enjoying each new phase as much as the... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2006-05-01)

Among many, an early and great of music in opposition to the recent caterwauling of our current government is alms by re: There’s also Joy Division’s broader and more concise “Atrocity... » Read more(Posted by K. Leimer 2008-01-01)

When it appeared in 2006 many were hoping that Believe would be veteran Polish guitarist Mirek Gil’s return to the sort of progressive rock he had championed as part of Collage. His work with Mr.... » Read more(Posted by Paul Hightower 2014-02-06)

By one scheme of reckoning, rarities collections come three categories: those that are only of interest to established fans of the artist, those that can serve as an introduction to a newbie, and... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-01-01)

Mark Feldman has been involved in the music industry for 30 years performing as a session musician in Nashville on over 200 country albums and then in New York City on more than 150 jazz albums. Today... » Read more(Posted by Henry Schneider 2007-03-01)

English synthesist Mark Jenkins played a series of concerts across Pennsylvania in 2005. This 2 CD set documents that occasion. Live in the USA is much like mid-period Tangerine Dream, but... » Read more(Posted by Henry Schneider 2006-12-31)

Listening to this new album by the Finnish band Khatsaturjan took me back to the 70s and mid-period Genesis. Aramed Forces of Simantipak is a rock symphony lasting almost 70 minutes. Though I... » Read more(Posted by Henry Schneider 2007-03-01)

Scandinavia appears to be the 21st Century’s space rock incubator and Øresund Space Collective is one of the latest offspring. The ØSC is a group of Danish, Swedish, and American musicians who... » Read more(Posted by Henry Schneider 2007-03-01)

This is one truly off-the-wall release. Sebkha Chott is a collection of eight French musicians with strange pseudonyms. The digipack and liner notes are extremely difficult to decipher because of tiny... » Read more(Posted by Henry Schneider 2007-03-01)

Little old naïve me would have expected the goth movement to be at the end of its useful life. There is only so much doom and gloom you can take. After all, people usually listen to music to escape... » Read more(Posted by Henry Schneider 2006-12-31)

The Source is a Los Angeles based four-piece of g/k/b/d with keyboardist and primary composer Aaron Goldich assuming the vocal duties. They are a prog rock band with ambitious aims, as evidenced by... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-01-01)

Pianist and composer Slava (Vyacheslav) Ganelin is known for his assertive power trio in Russia and his leadership within the Israeli free jazz scene since emigrating there in 1987. In contrast, New... » Read more(Posted by Jeff Melton 2005-09-01)

Sometimes I think French TV must be the result of a gene-splicing experiment combining DNA from Djam Karet and The Muffins. Then I hear a violin and that theory goes in the file with phlogiston and... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2007-03-01)

While listening to this album, I find myself often comparing it to Camel’s Snow Goose. For one thing, there is a certain stylistic similarity, as they are both keyboard-centric instrumental... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2006-05-01)

Now that bassist Martin Gordon has established himself across two creditable solo records together with a crackshot band that suits his clever muse, it’s clear that he has some more pop rock damage... » Read more(Posted by Jeff Melton 2006-05-01)

In 1996 vidnaObmana recorded The River of Appearance, which was a
high point of his early compositional style. Employing samples, loops,
electronics, and sparse piano phrases, vidnaObmana... » Read more(Posted by Henry Schneider 2007-03-01)

This album sprouts directly from the treasure trove of Dutch prog
rock, although it took a Spanish label to finally release it on CD. The
music is inspired by the great classic composer Bach, but in... » Read more(Posted by Roel Steverink 2007-03-01)

Most probably know Sparks from their later work, but these two are where it all began for this LA based five-piece led by brothers Ron and Russel Mael (keyboards and vocals, respectively). On these... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2007-03-01)

Most probably know Sparks from their later work, but these two are where it all began for this LA based five-piece led by brothers Ron and Russel Mael (keyboards and vocals, respectively). On these... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2007-03-01)

Perhaps one day this classic by the Jethro Tull offshoot led by
original guitarist Mick Abrahams will get a proper reissue, but until
then this latest remastered version from EMI will have to do (and... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2007-03-01)

It's about time that these albums received a proper re-release after the butcher job the German Line label did with them in the late 80s (large parts of tracks missing, track indexes in the wrong... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2007-03-01)

In December '64 The Moody Blues first hit the U.K. charts with a
cover of U.S. soul singer Bessie Banks' "Go Now," with its expansive
harmonies sounding a bit like a British take on the Righteous... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2007-03-01)

As part of ECM's continuing new music series, enter a semi-classical
trio who embrace the quietudes of modern compositional expression with
a keen sense of space and beauty by focusing on modern... » Read more(Posted by Jeff Melton 2007-03-01)

Progressive metal has been around long enough now that a new release
has to have something different about it in order to catch my interest.
Scott Mosher does a good job doing that with the first... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2007-03-01)

Introducing a world where standard sci-fi is just too darn human to be
plausible. If there are any advanced life forms out there taking joy
rides through post-supernoval remnants or losing the space... » Read more(Posted by Mac Beaulieu 2007-03-01)

Life in the past lane. Call it retro, but rock music like this just
isn't made anymore. On their fifth full-length disc this Bay Area trio
dishes it up with enough credibility and authenticity to... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2007-03-01)

An erstwhile aberrant choir of miscreants, stumbling over themselves to
get their operatic avant-garde leaning message out, might seem daunting
at first. Sure, initially there will be a short sharp... » Read more(Posted by Cesar Montesano 2007-03-01)

The films of the late Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky have been widely
acclaimed in international circles for over thirty years. Pianist
François Couturier has taken as inspiration characters,... » Read more(Posted by Jeff Melton 2007-03-01)

Hailing from Oakland (always a good thing!), ABA is essentially an
instrumental g/b/d trio with each member playing various additional
instruments (electric sitar, Theremin, samplers, organ, synth,... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2007-03-01)

Andy Timmons is a guitarist along the lines of Steve Vai, Eric Johnson,
and Joe Satriani, though to my ear maybe a little more enjoyable because
of the variety of styles he covers. His technique is... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2007-03-01)

This Greek quintet has been around since the mid-90s, this being their
fourth release, a concept album about Homer's Odyssey. The best thing
about this band are the idiosyncratic vocals of lead... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2007-03-01)

It should come as no big shock that singer-songwriter Paul Simon would
be seeking a new sonic vehicle for his well-established career. Given the
international success of Graceland it's... » Read more(Posted by Jeff Melton 2007-03-01)

Peaceful droplets emerge to deposit us on a plane of squeezing voices gently chiding a plane of aberrant existence. There is quite a bit of hubbub about this agglomeration of miscreants and it must be... » Read more(Posted by Cesar Montesano 2007-03-01)

2006 marks the 25th anniversary of The Legendary Pink Dots and the band toured extensively in the US and Europe this spring and summer. It is rare occurrence that a band remains together this long and... » Read more(Posted by Henry Schneider 2007-03-01)

Astralis are part of the explosion of new prog rock bands emerging from Latin and South America, Chile to be more specific. The band was formed around guitarist and singer Patricio Vera in 1999 and... » Read more(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-01-01)

The promo sheet says something about Black Sabbath crossed with Hawkwind, and for once you can take that at face value. Heavy, spaced-out rocking good fun, skeletal imagery notwithstanding. These guys... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-01-01)

We all know saxophonist Field from his many years with Birdsongs of the Mesozoic, and of late, his Revolutionary Snake Ensemble also. His solo albums tend to be lesser known, perhaps because they are... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-01-01)

Just when you thought you'd had enough of Nordic fiddles, along comes this little gem from Finland. I like Scandinavian folk music as much as the next guy — probably more, actually — though I'll... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-01-01)

For those living under a rock, David Gilmour has recently completed a world tour in support of his 2006 solo album, On an Island, which this double DVD set documents and commemorates. Disk... » Read more(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-01-01)

Maybe I'm just a little dense, but I'm not sure how a band that's been around for 12 years can be called young and new, even if this is their first release. That being said, I will admit that the... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-01-01)

On the heels of his double CD Live in the USA, Mark Jenkins has released his 14th album This Island Earth. It presents three styles of electronic music: 1) a purely digital... » Read more(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-01-01)

Violinist Jeff Gauthier is probably best known as for having spent time in the LA improv scene working with Alex and Nels Cline (who are prime contributors on this set of seven avant tracks). At times... » Read more(Posted by Jeff Melton 2008-01-01)

In the 30 or so years that Charlemagne Palestine has been around, this writer has never heard any of his music until now. It was inevitable that one of his recordings would reach my ears eventually,... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-01-01)

Hectic Watermelon is less a band than a solo project built around the talents of guitarist John Czajkowski. For this album he's assembled a capable trio to back him that includes bass (Harley... » Read more(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-01-01)

Birch Book is in reality singer/songwriter/guitarist Michael B'eirth (also known as B'ee), a rising star in the acid-folk and psych-folk scene. Fortune & Folly breaks down into two... » Read more(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-01-01)

It was a sad day in 1980 when I read in Melody Maker that Horslips were calling it a day. The premier Irish folk-rock band had survived a decade without a single personnel change, gone... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-01-01)

Well, you never know what might show up in your mailbox when you write for this magazine. This one was a pleasant surprise. It's fairly ambitious independent rock with a flavor of India, and maybe... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-01-01)

Roger Powell is best known as long-time keyboardist for Utopia as well as his early pioneering synthesizer records (Cosmic Furnace and Air Pocket). Fossil Poets is his first... » Read more(Posted by Jeff Melton 2008-01-01)

The Gift are a fairly new British group targeting the more accessible side of the progressive spectrum. They have lots of analog keys and such, although many songs are just a singer and an acoustic... » Read more(Posted by Sean McFee 2008-01-01)

Heck, any band that gives thanks to "the spectacular Eliza Dushku for inspiration" deserves the benefit of the doubt, don't they? This American three-piece treads some familiar ground — the... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-01-01)

Peru's Supay (named after evil spirits of Quecha-speaking natives) is almost two bands rolled into one. On one side is a rock quartet built around the guitar playing of Luis Proaño, along with... » Read more(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-01-01)

Quite a few years ago — I think it was after I first heard Echolyn — I devised a new sub-genre of progressive rock, part of my own eccentric system of categorizing music. I called this sub-genre... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-01-01)

This gem came out quietly toward the end of 2006, a side project by two of the primary composers of Happy the Man needing an outlet for their material, unable to wait for the stars and planets to be... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-01-01)

I am having a bit of difficulty identifying my issues with Little Tragedies' third release The Sixth Sense and I don't wish to sound negative. I have tried unsuccessfully on several occasions... » Read more(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-01-01)

Yes, it's a French band that sings about a jester. To be honest, it's probably just the title track that's about the jester or harlequin in question, but it also has a jester's face on the cover. With... » Read more(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-01-01)

Ex-Vagus is a French prog rock quintet (bass, drums, keyboards, vocals, and guitars) that would fit well in the Musea stable of French artists (Ange, Pulsar, etc.). Ames Vagabondes is their... » Read more(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-01-01)

Got a friend who only likes jazz or movie soundtrack music or both? Here's a disc to slip into their hands with a wink. It just might turn them into prog-heads. XII Alfonso have fashioned here a... » Read more(Posted by David Bischoff 2008-01-01)

Now that we are in the era of cut-and-paste music, there are many more possibilities for bizarre juxtaposition of sounds and styles than back in the days of tape editing. Italian guitarist Emiliano... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-01-01)

Antiklimax is the name given to the keyboard endeavors of Frenchman Vincent Benesy. This CD is the result of five years' work focusing on many Euro film based ideas as impetus to funky compositions... » Read more(Posted by Jeff Melton 2008-01-01)

SSI (Sonic Solutions, Inc.) apparently consists of California brothers Will and John Goff, who combine laptops and MIDI synths along with live and programmed percussion to create sounds reminiscent... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-01-01)

Walt Ribeiro is an American composer in his early 20s, influenced both by classical music and modern rock. I.I is probably best described as post-modern classical music. It consists of twelve... » Read more(Posted by Sean McFee 2008-01-01)

For the third installment of his Friesengeist series, Julien Ash has pared things down, utilizing only four musicians to augment his own keyboards and effects; previous releases featured eight or... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-01-01)

The Art of All is a young band (Peter Aliferis drums and keyboards, Ruben Ruiz vocals and guitar, and Chris Debari bass) based in Massachusetts who characterize themselves as a progressive trance... » Read more(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-01-01)

Dripping with glissando and staggering from frequent hamsterish workouts on the pitch wheel, Gaiaspace (not Gaia's pace?) is indeed Space Music, all the way from the strained noun-combo of... » Read more(Posted by K. Leimer 2008-01-01)

Gravity Tree is one of the more interesting progressive bands around, a duo who covers all the instruments of a four piece band, plus vocals; and they do this live too. Guitarist Linc plays a... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-01-01)

I have to admit that when I saw this one I thought, "Not another tribute band." But there was that list of participants on the front cover: Clive Bunker, Mick Abrahams, Bernardo Lanzetti, Jonathan... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2008-01-01)

I'm new to this Swedish quintet, but have to say I'm mightily impressed. In a nutshell, these guys have come up with a prog rock take on what Queen were doing in the mid 70s. Other reference points... » Read more(Posted by Paul Hightower 2008-01-01)

Even if you've never heard of Phideaux, you already know one thing about them. They are a busy little band – though sometimes I wonder if "band" is the right word. It's almost a solo project of... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2007-03-01)

Even if you've never heard of Phideaux, you already know one thing about them. They are a busy little band – though sometimes I wonder if "band" is the right word. It's almost a solo project of... » Read more(Posted by Jon Davis 2007-03-01)

Level π is kind of an oddball release for Garden of Delights as they specialize in releasing reissues and archive recordings of little known German bands from the late 60s and 70s. In this case,... » Read more(Posted by Henry Schneider 2011-06-01)

This oddly named quartet hails from South Amboy, NJ, and brings a number of strong elements to their debut studio release Frustration +,
including a powerful vocal presence in frontman Billy... » Read more(Posted by Peter Thelen 2008-01-01)

Seamus is a French/English band that takes on the monumental task of portraying the horror of the Holocaust. The music is very intense, even abstract at times, as Seamus tries to convey the anguished... » Read more(Posted by Henry Schneider 2008-01-01)

Latest news

2019-04-24Help MoonJune Bring Great Music to Life –
Like many music lovers around the world, we’ve been thrilled and amazed to hear the recordings that have been released by MoonJune from sessions at La Casa Murada in Spain. Such label stalwarts as Mark Wingfield, Markus Reuter, Asaf Sirkis, Tony Levin, Dusan Jevtovic, Vasil Hadzimanov, and many more have gathered in various combinations at the studio to produce some of the most creative music in recent years. Now, label head Leonardo Pavkovic is offering a compilation, La Casa Murada - MoonJune Sessions, Volume One, as a fundraiser for upcoming sessions. »
Read more

2019-04-10The Pineapple Thief to Tour North America –
November and December of 2019 will see The Pineapple Thief bringing their music to Canada, Mexico, and the US, and famed drummer Gavin Harrison will be on board. The band has been touring extensively in Europe, but North America will be new territory for them. »
Read more

2019-03-25Scott Walker RIP –
Noel Scott Engel, better known as Scott Walker, was one of the most intriguing and enigmatic musical figures in the second half of the 20th Century. His strange career started with The Walker Brothers, an American pop group that featured no one named Walker and no brothers. After moving to England in 1965, they had a series of hit singles. Scott's solo work started with Scott in 1967. Starting in the 80s, his work took an increasingly avant-garde turn. »
Read more

2019-03-20Freedom to Spend Unearths June Chikuma's Archives –
Jun (June) Chikuma is well known for her video game and anime soundtracks, but she also released an album of experimental electronic music back in 1986 called Divertimento where she indulged the kind of spontaneity that wouldn't work in a soundtrack. RVNG Int'l label Freedom to Spend is bringing this overlooked item to broader attention with a deluxe reissue. »
Read more

2019-03-03Seaprog 2019 Lineup Almost Complete –
The Seaprog festival in Seattle is scheduled for June 7-9 this year, and they've announced their lineup of performers. The revitalized Trettioåriga Kriget will cap Friday night, perennial favorites Marbin are on Saturday, and District 97 will finish off the fest on Sunday night. In support, they've booked a stellar variety of artists from the Northwest and around the world, including EchoTest, Markus Reuter and Trey Gunn, and the live debut of the amazing Troot project. »
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Previously in Exposé...

Anekdoten - Vemod –
Anekdoten is a new four piece from Sweden. This album was recorded early this year, and from what I've heard, they have been highly revered by, among others, their countrymen Änglagård....
(1994) »
Read more

Travis & Fripp - Thread –
Given the extensive musical resumes of Theo Travis and Robert Fripp, it was only a matter of synchronicity that would lead to a real time collaboration by these two innovators. Travis work with Cipher...
(2009) »
Read more

Kit Watkins - Holographic Tapestries –
Since his days with Happy The Man and Camel, Watkins' solo career has been anything but a predictable journey, venturing into ambient soundscapes, soothing impressionistic sorties, programmed...
(1995) »
Read more

Surprise - Assault on Merryland –
Surprise was an American symphonic rock band with influences ranging from Yes to Kansas to Deep Purple. As with many US progressives, Surprise were fairly commercially oriented at times – tracks...
(1995) »
Read more

The Muffins - Bandwidth –
Many bands from the 70s and 80s that reform do so for strictly financial reasons. They might hit the concert circuit to cash in, and the results can range from pleasantly nostalgic to downright...
(2002) »
Read more